Walt Disney World is responding to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages priced at $89 per day for access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, with Magic Kingdom tickets sold separately. This change marks a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. These ticket discounts will be available until September 24.
In addition to ticket reductions, Disney has lowered rates for its budget hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, translating to discounts of up to 27% according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, Disney also rolled out new dining packages that reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. The packages provide all-day meal passes at $30 for children and $95 for adults, allowing them to redeem meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney is reportedly offering more quick service meal options and more affordable kids’ food, along with flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community point to rising food costs within the parks as a key factor for the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% when Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed pricing at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he expressed concerns that these changes may not indicate a genuine dedication to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to prioritize revenue, sometimes at the expense of positive customer feedback.